330.2004
RESOLUTION OPPOSING STATE COMPTROLLER ALAN HEVESI’S
PROPOSAL TO INCREASE 2004 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NEW YORK
STATE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEM
RESOLUTION NO.: 330. 2004
INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Tim Brewer
WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION
SECONDED BY: Mr. Daniel Stec
WHEREAS, the Town of Queensbury paid $173,284 more in the New York State
Employee Retirement System (NYSERS) contributions in 2003 than in 2002 because of losses in
the NYSERS Fund although local government did not cause or contribute to the losses in any
way, and
WHEREAS, New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi has proposed increasing the
contributions in 2004 by 11.5% for Tiers 1 and 2 and 6.6% for Tiers 3 and 4 payable in
December 2004, and
WHEREAS, such increases would require the Town of Queensbury to pay approximately
$355,409 more in NYSERS contributions in 2004 than in 2003 or a 158.447% increase, further
increasing the real property tax burden on real property taxpayers in the Town of Queensbury,
and
WHEREAS, such increases would also require the four (4) school districts located at
least partially within the Town of Queensbury to pay more in NYSERS contributions, with the
proposed figures for three (3) of those districts being as follows:
Glens Falls City School $276,060 (184.965%) proposed increase
Lake George Central School $112,350 (154.966%) proposed increase
Queensbury Union Free School $225,338 (69.859%) proposed increase
and
WHEREAS, NYSERS is 100% funded in 2004 without the proposed large increase in
contribution rates, and
WHEREAS, the unnecessarily substantial proposed increases would unduly burden Town
of Queensbury real property taxpayers including the elderly, disabled and others living on fixed
incomes, thereby putting them at risk of losing their homes at real property tax sales,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby expresses its strong opposition to
New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi’s proposed 2004 New York State Employee
Retirement System (NYSERS) contributions but strongly expresses its support of Governor
George E. Pataki’s alternate proposal for 6.5% NYSERS contributions in 2004 and periodic
reductions thereafter, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes and directs the Town Clerk to
forward copies of this Resolution to the Warren County Board of Supervisors, New York State
Association of Counties, Governor George E. Pataki, Senator Elizabeth Little, Assemblywoman
Teresa Sayward, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and
New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi and further authorizes and directs the Town
Supervisor and Town Clerk to take such other and further action as may be necessary to
effectuate the terms of this Resolution.
st
Duly adopted this 21 day of June, 2004 by the following vote:
AYES : Mr. Brewer, Mr. Stec, Mr. Boor, Mr. Turner
NOES : Mr. Strough
ABSENT: None